Salaman and Absal, an Allegory, Tr. [By E. Fitzgerald] (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 edition. Excerpt: ... Suddenly that Sweet Minister of mine Rebuked me angrily; "What Folly, Jami, "Wearing that indefatigable Pen "In celebration of an Alien Shah "Whose Throne, not grounded in the Eternal World, "Yesterday was, To-day is not "1 I answer'd; "Oh Fount of Light --under an Alien Name "I shadow One upon whose Head the Crown "Both Was and Is To-day; to whose Firman "The Seven Kingdoms of the World are subject, "And the Seas Seven but droppings of his Largess. "Good luck to him who under other Name "Taught us to veil the Praises of a Power "To which the Initiate scarce find open Door." 1 The Hero of the Story being of Yunan--Ionia, or Greece generally, (the Persian Geography not being very precise, )--and so not of The Faith. Sat a Lover solitary Self-discoursing in a Corner, Passionate and ever-changing Invocation pouring out; Sometimes Sun and Moon; and sometimes Under Hyacinth half-hidden Roses; or the lofty Cypress, And the little Weed below. Nightingaling thus a Noodle Heard him, and, completely puzzled, --"What " quoth he, "And you, a Lover, "Raving not about your Mistress, "But about the Moon and Roses " Answer'd he; "Oh thou that aimest "Wide of Love, and Lover's Language "Wholly misinterpreting; "Sun and Moon are but my Lady's "Self, as any Lover knows; "Hyacinth I said, and meant her "Hair--her Cheek was in the Rose--"And I myself the wretched Weed "That in her Cypress Shadow grows." Now was Salaman in his Prime of Growth, His Cypress Stature risen to high Top, And the new-blooming Garden of his Beauty Began to bear; and Absal long'd to gather; But the Fruit grew upon too high a Bough, To which the Noose of her Desire was short. She too rejoiced in Beauty of her own No whit behind Salaman, whom she now Began enticing with her Sorcery. Now from her...